Pivot interlock for a fiber management tray

Abstract

A pivot interlock for a fiber management tray is disclosed. The pivot interlock is configured for pivotally coupling the fiber management tray to a tray mount. The pivot interlock includes a pivot guide portion and a pivot detent portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical fiber management device comprising:
 a tray mount and a fiber management tray that are coupled together by a pivot interlock that when interlocked couples the tray mount and the fiber management tray together by a pivotal connection that allows the fiber management tray to pivot relative to the tray mount between a first pivot position and a second pivot position; 
 the pivot interlock including a detent pivot arrangement and a guide pivot arrangement; 
 the detent pivot arrangement including a detent pivot pin portion integrated with one of the tray mount and the fiber management tray, the detent pivot arrangement also including a detent receptacle integrated with the other of the tray mount and the fiber management tray, the detent receptacle being configured for receiving the detent pivot pin portion when the pivot interlock is interlocked, the detent pivot pin portion including a plurality of pin flat surfaces positioned circumferentially about the detent pivot pin portion, the detent receptacle defining a plurality of receptacle flat surfaces; 
 the guide pivot arrangement including a cylindrical pivot pin portion integrated with one of the tray mount and the fiber management tray, the guide pivot arrangement also including a guide receptacle integrated with the other of the tray mount and the fiber management tray, the guide receptacle being configured for receiving the cylindrical pivot pin portion when the pivot interlock is interlocked, the guide receptacle having an open end positioned opposite from a closed end, the open end being configured to allow the cylindrical pivot pin portion to be inserted into the guide receptacle, the closed end including a guide surface having a concave curvature that curves along a convex curvature of the cylindrical pivot pin portion when the pivot interlock is interlocked; and 
 wherein when the pivot interlock is interlocked, a pivot axis about which the fiber management tray pivots extends axially though the cylindrical pivot pin portion, the detent pivot pin portion, the guide receptacle, and the detent receptacle, wherein as the fiber management tray is pivoted between the first pivot position and the second pivot position, at least some of the pin flat surfaces and the receptacle flat surfaces engage one another to cause the detent receptacle to elastically deform and the cylindrical pivot pin portion concurrently pivots within the guide receptacle, and wherein an interaction between at least some of the pin flat surfaces and the receptacle flat surfaces provides a tray retention force for retaining the fiber management tray in the first and second pivot positions. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical fiber management device of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical pivot pin portion and the detent pivot pin portion are integrated with the fiber management tray, and wherein the guide receptacle and the detent receptacle are integrated with the tray mount. 
     
     
       3. The optical fiber management device of  claim 2 , wherein the detent pivot arrangement includes first and second spaced-apart detent pivot pin portions, wherein the detent pivot arrangement includes first and second spaced-apart detent receptacles that respectively receive the first and second detent pivot pin portions, wherein the guide pivot arrangement includes first and second cylindrical pivot pin portions positioned axially between the first and second detent pivot pin portions, wherein the first and second cylindrical pivot pin portions are separated by a central flange, wherein the guide pivot arrangement also includes first and second guide receptacles that respectively receive the first and second cylindrical pivot pin portions, wherein the first and second guide receptacles are separated by a central slot, and wherein when the pivot interlock is interlocked the central flange fits within the central slot to limit axial movement of the fiber management tray relative to the tray mount along the pivot axis. 
     
     
       4. The optical fiber management device of  claim 3 , wherein outer ends of the first and second spaced-apart detent pivot pin portions are integrally coupled to end flanges which are coupled to a main body of the fiber management tray, wherein inner ends of the first and second spaced-apart detent pivot pin portions are integrally coupled to outer ends of the first and second cylindrical pivot pin portions, wherein inner ends of the first and second cylindrical pivot pin portions are integrally connected to the central flange, wherein the central flange is coupled to the main body of the fiber management tray, and wherein the central flange and the end flanges offset the first and second detent pivot pin portions and the first and second cylindrical pivot pin portions from the main body of the fiber management tray. 
     
     
       5. The optical fiber management device of  claim 1 , wherein the detent receptacle elastically deforms as the fiber management tray is pivoted between the first and second pivot positions, and wherein the guide receptacle does not elastically deform as the fiber management tray is moved between the first and second pivot positions. 
     
     
       6. The optical fiber management device of  claim 1 , wherein as the fiber management tray is pivoted between the first and second pivot positions, a maximum deformation of the detent receptacle occurs at a central pivot position between the first and second pivot positions. 
     
     
       7. The optical fiber management device of  claim 1 , wherein the detent receptacle is in a stable state when the fiber management tray is in the first and second pivot positions, wherein when the detent receptacle is in the stable state the detent receptacle is either not elastically deformed or has less elastic deformation as compared when the fiber management tray has been pivoted to a pivot position between the first and second pivot positions. 
     
     
       8. The optical fiber management device of  claim 1 , wherein the detent pivot pin portion has a square transverse cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       9. The optical fiber management device of  claim 1 , wherein the detent receptacle includes first and second resilient arms having base ends and free ends, wherein the first and second resilient arms define the receptacle flat surfaces and wherein the receptacle flat surfaces corresponding to each of the first and second resilient arms face toward each other, and wherein the first and second resilient arms flex outwardly about their base ends as the fiber management tray is moved between the first and second pivot positions. 
     
     
       10. The optical fiber management device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second resilient arms have retainers at the free ends for retaining the detent pivot pin portion within the detent receptacle, wherein the first and second resilient arms flex apart from a retaining position to an insertion position to allow insertion of the detent pivot pin portion past the retainers and into the detent receptacle, and wherein the first and second resilient arms resiliently return to the retaining position once the detent pivot pin portion has been inserted past the retainers and into the detent receptacle.